Responses (2)

AN

Anonymous19 Jul 2011

Hello jazzywhite. Two of our dogs needed thier anal glands drained. We, my wife and I tryed it the first time and made a mess of things. The odor is ... pretty awfull, to say the least. Todo it is by applying pressure between your thumb and a finger, just below and either side of the anus. (there are two of them, the size of a small I would say cotton ball. And you your dog, needs to be at ease, a head needs to be held while its being done, for your dog will most certainly attempt to nip or bite whoever is doing the draining. I suggest, a trip to the vet. Worth the money to let a professional take care of it. You can be present while your vet does it, it takes but a minute or so. Then, after watching your vet, next time you can do it forself. The 2nd dog we had, in regards to the anal glands, kept filling up, so we ended up having them removed. Oh, if not emptied, the glands can becomed infected. There are two of them. One on each side of the anus. The vets do this procedure on a regular basis. So, let your vet do it, and then if you like, next you might try it. Hope that this might have helped, and remember please, I'm no veterinarian, just a layperson who happens to love animals as a general rule.Both the dogs, that had the problem with the glands were black labs.best wishes.

Pledge is correct. Take the dog to the Vet the fiirst time. We had a Bichon that got an abcess in one 2 different times, & had to have it surgically removed. It is not a big operation, but it is expensive. So learn how by watching the Vet preform this. I'm sure he will be glad to help. There are actually two ways to do this. One is as Pledge says on the outside, the other is putiing a vinyl gloved finger inside & asserting pressure. What they are are scent glands that dogs don't use like wolfs would, & sometimes they fill with fecal matter. Hope this helps...

Hello Mary. Good point about the other method. and you're 100% on, in regards to the glands not being used much as a wolve might. Hope that you are doing well. Time to feed our guys, before the thunder sets in. Oh, the Bichon you had, very old breed. Good looking dogs, and I imagine was a fine watchdog to boot as well as a great buddy, companion.Best wishes Mary, I'll chat with you most probably tomorrow, just a bit tired. ha! old age setting in. And the dogs don't do well, when my wife is away, so they tend to bark at any noise. And that keeps me up.